Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: ProContract e-Tendering Tool Ref. 9SYL-RT12VA
Must use ProContract at url listed below
Ref: 9SYL-RT12VA
UNITED KINGDOM
Internet address: http://www.the-chest.org.uk

I.2)Main activity

Urban railway, tramway, trolleybus or bus services

I.3)Contract award on behalf of other contracting entities

The contracting entity is purchasing on behalf of other contracting entities: no

II.1.2)Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance

Services
Service category No 2: Land transport services [2], including armoured car services, and courier services, except transport of mail
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Greater Manchester.

NUTS code UKD3

II.1.3)Information about a public contract, a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS)

The notice involves a public contract

II.1.4)Information on framework agreement

II.1.5)Short description of the contract or purchase(s):

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is seeking to appoint an appropriately experienced and qualified operator-maintainer for its Greater Manchester light rail system, Metrolink. TfGM considers the Metrolink system to be a tram and are procuring the operator-maintainer on this basis.
The contract will run from July 2017 for a term of 7 years with a potential extension of up to a further 3 years. In addition, there will be a contract option for TfGM to extend the term for an additional 1 year at the end of either the 7th or 10th year of the contract to accommodate any delay in the procurement process for a subsequent operator-maintainer.
The successful contractor will be responsible for both the operation and maintenance of the Metrolink System and may also be responsible for some or all of the renewals. (The scope of renewals that the operator-maintainer will be responsible for has not yet been determined. It is also possible that the operator-maintainer will be required to deliver renewal services through a separate framework agreement).
The Metrolink system is the largest tram network in the UK and is of strategic importance to the economy of Greater Manchester as it provides fast and frequent links across the Greater Manchester region supporting employment, leisure and tourism. By 2017, following completion of the phase 3 expansion project the system assets will comprise a fleet of approximately 120 trams, 180 km of track and overhead line, 93 stops, and 44 substations; two operational depots; and a patronage of approximately 40 million journeys per annum. In addition to the existing assets, during the proposed contract term the system may be extended to include at least one additional line and associated infrastructure which may include but not be limited to trams, track, overhead line, stops, and substations.
Currently, system maintenance is the subject of two separate contracts. Maintenance obligations for the tram fleet and phases 1 and 2 of the system are included within the combined operations and maintenance agreement (COMA) with Metrolink RATP Dev Limited (MRDL) who are also the operator for the whole of the system. The maintenance obligations for phase 3 infrastructure are delivered under the design, construct and maintain (DCM) contract with the M-Pact Thales consortium (MPT), which is the contractor for the phase 3 extensions. Any additions to the Metrolink network whether envisaged now or later during the life of the Contract can be added to the Contract at TfGM’s option.
Both the existing maintenance, and operation and maintenance contracts are due to end in July 2017. It is TfGM’s intention that the operation and maintenance for the full system (which may extend to maintenance not currently provided for in the agreements with MRDL and MPT) will be delivered under a single contract.

The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): yes

II.1.8)Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: no

II.1.9)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: yes

II.2)Quantity or scope of the contract

II.2.1)Total quantity or scope:

The current term is 7 years from July 2017 and may be extended for up to 3 additional years. TfGM will have the option to extend the term for an additional 1 year at the end of either the 7th or 10th year of the contract to accommodate any delay in the procurement process for a subsequent operator-maintainer. For the avoidance of doubt the total term (assuming no early termination) of the contract could range from 7 to 11 years.
Estimated value excluding VAT
Range: between 300 000 000 and 830 000 000 GBP

II.2.2)Information about options

Options: yes
Description of these options: In addition to the existing assets, during the proposed contract term the system may be extended to include at least one additional line and associated infrastructure which may include but not be limited to trams, track, overhead line, stops, and substations. The contract will provide TfGM the option to include the operation and maintenance of additional lines and associated infrastructure and assets as added to the existing system.
TfGM will have the option to extend the term for an additional 1 year at the end of either the 7th or 10th year of the contract to accommodate any delay in the procurement process for a subsequent operator-maintainer. For the avoidance of doubt the total term (assuming no early termination) of the contract could range from 7 to 11 years.

II.2.3)Information about renewals

This contract is subject to renewal: no

II.3)Duration of the contract or time limit for completion

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1)Conditions relating to the contract

III.1.1)Deposits and guarantees required:

The supplier may be required to provide a performance bond, guarantees, and/or other forms of surety. Further details will be set out in the pre-qualification documentation which can be obtained from TfGM as described in Annex A.1.

All tenders must be prepared in UK pounds sterling and all payments will be made in the same as per the contract documentation.

III.1.3)Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:

TfGM reserves the right to require a successful consortium to form a single legal entity in accordance with regulation 28(3).

III.1.4)Other particular conditions:

III.2)Conditions for participation

III.2.1)Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Information, formalities and necessary requirements to be met will be set out in a pre-qualification documentation which can be obtained from TfGM as described in Annex A.1.

III.2.2)Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Information, formalities and necessary requirements to be met will be set out in a pre-qualification documentation which can be obtained from TfGM as described in Annex A.1.

III.2.3)Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Information, formalities and necessary requirements to be met will be set out in a pre-qualification documentation which can be obtained from TfGM as described in Annex A.1.

III.2.4)Information about reserved contracts

III.3)Conditions specific to services contracts

III.3.1)Information about a particular profession

Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession: no

III.3.2)Staff responsible for the execution of the service

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)Type of procedure

IV.1.1)Type of procedure

Negotiated
Some candidates have already been selected (if appropriate under certain types of negotiated procedures): no

IV.2)Award criteria

IV.2.1)Award criteria

The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications or in the invitation to tender or to negotiate

Time limit for receipt of requests for documents or for accessing documents: 30.6.2015
Payable documents: no

IV.3.4)Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

13.7.2015 – 12:00

IV.3.5)Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up

English.

IV.3.6)Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

IV.3.7)Conditions for opening of tenders

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1)Information about recurrence

VI.2)Information about European Union funds

The contract is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

VI.3)Additional information:

In order to obtain additional information and the pre-qualification questionnaire documentation interested suppliers must register their expression of interest for the opportunity entitled ‘Greater Manchester Metrolink — Operation and maintenance of a tram system’ (ProContract contract reference 9SYL-RT12VA) via www.the-chest.org.uk/procontract/supplier.nsf

Please note the return date and time in IV.3.4 is the final date for submission of the completed pre-qualification questionnaire. The return date in IV.3.3 is the final date for submitting clarification requests.
This procurement process will be conducted through the ProContract e-tendering portal and any submission made outside of this portal will be disqualified.
All communications, including PQQ responses and tender submissions must be written in English and priced in pounds sterling.
Nothing in this procurement process is intended to form any express or implied contractual relationship between the parties unless and until the award of a contract is concluded.
Any contract entered into as a result of this procurement will be considered to be a contract governed by English Law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.
TfGM is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses (including third party costs, fees or expenses) incurred by those expressing an interest in, negotiating or tendering for this contract opportunity.
TfGM reserves the right to terminate this procurement process or to amend or vary the process at any time prior to the conclusion of the award of contract without liability to any party.
Applicants are advised that the most economically advantageous tender or any tender will not automatically be accepted.
Any contract that is awarded to the successful tenderer will need to comply with relevant provisions in Regulation of 1370/2007 regarding there being no overcompensation of the successful tenderer.
TfGM issued a notice under Article 7(2) of Regulation 1370/2007 PIN in relation to this procurement: 2015/s 024-38944 and is issuing an update to that notice alongside issuing this Contract Notice.
Note: where data is provided in this Contract Notice and the Memorandum of Information in the PQQ, it is intended to help bidders understand the contract opportunity. The Contract is, however, a long term contract and the Contract will cover the operation and maintenance of Metrolink and its related assets as it develops over the life of the Contract e.g. number of trams, passengers, lines, stops etc. are all likely to change over the life of the Contract.

VI.4)Procedures for appeal

VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures

VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals

VI.4.3)Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained